Positioning and stacking device for elongated articles



July 3, 1956 R. FRIEDLI, JR 2,752,743

POSITIONING AND STACKING DEVICE FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES Original Filed Dec. 31, 19-48 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q x x a N Q Q g N INVENTOR ORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flake/i 3 BY WM A RNEY July 3, 1956 R. FRlEDLl, JR

POSITIONING AND STACKING DEVICE FOR ELONGATED ARTICLES Original Filed Dec. 31, 1948 POSITIONING AND STACKING DEVICE FGR ELONGATED ARTICLES Robert Friedli, Jr., Short Hills, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Original application December 31, 1348, Serial No. 68,553, now Patent No. 2,692,072., dated October 19, 1954. Divided and this application February 9, 1953, Serial No. 335,951

7 Claims. (Cl. 53-236) This invention relates to a new and useful stacking and positioning device for elongated articles.

This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 68,553, filed December 31, 1948, now Patent 2,692,072, for Positioning and Stacking Device for Elongated Articles, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

In the manufacture of small light weight elongated articles with unsymmetrical ends such as for example, cathode sleeves of the type having a tab at one end as used in electron discharge devices, trouble frequently develops in packing and positioning such articles to have the similar tab ends all lie in the same direction and not have them mixed with respect to their ends or have them lie in a criss-cross arrangement. The tendency of such criss-cross stacking is due primarily to the lightness and unsymmetrical ends whereas a larger, symmetrical and heavier article would not tend to stack as unevenly. For the convenience of shipping, compactness, and use in manufacture, it is desirable to have such articles all lie parallel and to be closely packed with the unsymmetrical ends all pointing in the same direction. The invention herein described provides an improved system of positioning and stacking such elongated articles.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved stacking and positioning device which is set above the open portion of a packing box or magazine to receive elongated articles from a mandrel of a machine particularly the type for fabricating such articles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel device which will accurately dispose in parallel relation fabricated articles having non-uniform ends in such a manner that the articles are positioned with similar ends all pointing in one direction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a means for properly timing a step by step movement of the stacking device so that it lies directly under the ejection point of the fabricating machine at the time when elongated articles are cut off and permitted to drop into the magazine.

A feature of this invention is the improved arrangement of a stacking and positioning device in which the packing case or magazine is mounted on a carriage which moves progressively and intermittently with respect to an ejecting point on a fabricating machine. Within the packing case are located separating members which operate in conjunction with floating aligners positioned above the packing case. The fabricating machine operates the carriage through a ratchet, cam and crank arm to intermittently move the magazine or packing case back and forth in steps below the ejection point of the machine, the articles being automatically dropped after ejection from the cutting member of the machine into each section of the stacking and positioning device as determined by the respective floating aligners.

This invention will be more clearly understood by referring to the accompanying drawing in which:

nited States atent O Fig. l is a front elevation of the positioning and stacking device of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 4, and shows the magazine fioating aligners and separating partitions and;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation partly in section of the maga zine of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2, upon a base 1 of the fabricating machine there is located a guide or track member 2 which is centrally located beneath a cutting device 3 including an anvil 4 and a cutter 5. An operating or cutting shaft 6 is coupled to provide the proper relativemovement with a main fabricating shaft 7 through any suitable means such as for example, a chain 6a and sprocket wheels 6b and 60 providing a 1 to 1 ratio between shafts 6 and 7 to cooperate with the cutting member 3. Or if desired a system of gears (not shown) may be substituted for the chain and sprockets. The main fabricating shaft 7 extends outward beyond the front of machine and has located in the front portion thereof an eccentric disc memher 8. Located slightly above main shaft member 7 is a third shaft 9 which has a bearing in an upright on base 1 and has located thereon a cam-wheel member 10. The forward portion of the cam-wheel member 10 has cut therein a channel or groove cam 11 in which the pitch Or slope line is approximately heart shaped. Located with in the channel of cam 11 is a cam follower or roller 12 which is mounted to turn on a shaft 12a located on a pivoted arm 13. The arm 13 pivoted at a fixed point 14 on the machine, has located at the lower free end portion thereof a pivot pin 15. The pivot pin 15 has secured thereto connecting link members 16 and 16a of which member 16a engages an aperture 17 in a carriage 2a. The carriage 2a is arranged to slide back and forth in a step by step movement upon track 2. In the rear portion of cam-wheel 10 there is secured for rotation therewith a ratchet 18 which is provided with an engaging pawl 19 pivoted at one end 15a to eccentric member 8 and the other end is forced to engage the ratchet 18 by means of a spring tension member 20 retained at the upper end to a boss 21. The ratchet 18 provides an intermittent or step by step motion for cam-wheel 10 and also provides a certain amount of uneven interruption of motion causing vibration to the lever system linking with carriage 2a, which vibration rocks floating aligners to be described. The cam 11 after proper adjustment of timing, positions the carriage in predetermined relation to the cutting device 3.

To prevent cam wheel 10 from acting as a fly wheel an adjustable friction member 24 is arranged to contact the" rim of cam wheel 10. Adjustment of the friction is maintained on member 24 by a spring 25 and a threaded stud 26 which members are retained in an aperture in boss 21 of the machine 1.

The magazine separating device which is shown in detail inFigs. 3 and 4 comprises a magazine 3!) which serves as the packing box for shipping or storing the elongated articles. Supported within the bottom portion of the packing box is a removable separator member which comprises seven metal partitions 31 which are equally spaced to form eight separate compartments. Secured to the upper end of the partitions 31 are side comb members 32 and 33. These side comb members are slotted to receive and retain the partition members 31. Pivotally arranged on the top portion of each partition 31 between the combs 32 and 33 are a plurality of floating aligners comprising three small members 34 and four large members 35. These floating aligning members are shaped and arranged to float upon rounded top edges of partitions 31. A barlike member 36 is secured to the comb 32 and a similar member is secured to comb 33, the members 36 being provided to prevent the floating aligning members from becoming detached from the top edges of the partitions referred to. -.T he two end partitions have secured thereto end funnel-shaped members 31a and 31b which tend to guide the elongated articles engaged thereby into desired parallel relation in the magazine. The intervening spaces between the floating aligners 34 and 35 are such as to funnel or guide the elongated articles in a position parallel to the partitions. The space 35a between the end of one aligner and the side of an adjacent floating aligner is such as to freely pass the articles which are fabricated. The partitions 31 separate the articles and position them parallel with each other so that they are closely packed with the unsymmetrical ends all pointing in the same direction so that upon removal of the separating device the articles will lie in desired parallel positions within the magazine 30.

In the manufacture of cathode sleeves it is desirable to make provisions for different lengths and different diameters of the sleeves. It is also desirable to pack the magazines with a larger and smaller number of sleeves. To take care of such conditions, there is provided on the forward portion of machine 1, a carriage elevating device 27 which is provided with a pair of parallel slots 27a. The adjustment of member 27 is provided by having a stud or threaded bolt 28 extend within the slots, and clamp the device to machine 1. The bolts are tightened when the elevating member is placed in its proper posi tion relative to the cutting device 3. For example, when a shallow box is employed, the member 27 is raised to an upper position, that is, a position closer to the cutting member 3 indicated by the dotted lines. When a deeper box member is employed, the elevating member 27 is lowered to the position shown. To accommodate cathode sleeves of different lengths which of necessity require boxes of different widths, there is provided an adjustable and removable sub-base or box support 29. There are different sub-bases for different widths of boxes. The member 29 is preferably constructed of thin sheet brass having upwardly extending side and end members 29a and 2% respectively. These end and side members keep thepacking box in proper alignment on carriage 2a relative to the cutting device 3. For the forward and backward adjustment of the magazine relative to the cutting device 3, two slots 29c and 29d are provided in sub-base or box-support. The box support 29 is: secured by bolts in its proper relative position upon the carriage 2a.

In the'operation of this device the operator before starting the fabricating machine places upon the box support 29 a cardboard box, without its cover, which is of the proper dimensions to'receive the cathode sleeves being fabricated. Next the operator places the separating device so that the partitions 31 rest upon the bottom of the cardboard box. The fabricating machine is then started in operation and when the cutting device moves downward toward the anvil 4 the article or cathode sleeve is severed and drops in a central position and approximately parallel with the partitions 31. Operating simultaneously with the cutting member 5 and shaft 6 is the rotating shaft 7 coupled to shaft 6 by chain 6a and sprockets 6b and 6c. The shaft 7 progressively moves the carriage 2a and the separating device forward one step, or to the next partition through the action of cam 11 and ratchet 18 and then stops so that upon the severance of the next article the adjacent partition will then dwell directly beneath the cutter 5. This progressive stepping forward is maintained by means of the action of pawl 19 engaging the ratchet wheel 18 which in turn rotates the cam 11. The shape of cam 11 is such as to progressively move backward and forward by step by step movement the carriage 2a upon track 2 the proper amount. The vibration caused by the action of pawl 19 and spring 20 shakes the floating aligners in box 30 so as to slightly increase the opening between adjacent aligners 34 and 35 thereby causing the articles within the magazine to fall in a parallel position with each other thus insuring uniform and compact assemblage of articles. The cycles of operations are continued until the magazine 30 is filled to the desired amount, then the separating device is removed and the cover placed on the box.

The device of this invention has been successively employed by stacking and positioning cathode sleeves having a tab at one end thereof and used in thermionic tubes. However, this invention is capable of many other uses wherein the articles to be packed are preferably those of light weight and of unsymmetrical configuration.

While I have set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and described it in detail with respect to said embodiment, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction set forth but desire to include all modifications thereof that come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for cutting and packing elongated articles including a main driving means, cutting means driven by said main driving means for cutting said articles for free fall, a package to be packed below said cutting means, movable means for supporting said package and, a device associated with said main driving means and comprising a mechanism for intermittently and progressively moving said supporting means between two positions below said cutting means, said mechanism including a rotatable shaft, a cam fixed to said shaft, a lever engaging said cam and pivotally connected to said movable means, and means joining said main driving means and said rotatable shaft for intermittently rotating said shaft, whereby the movement of said supporting means is phased with the operation of said cutting means and said elongated articles are received within said package at spaced locations.

2. Apparatus'for cutting and packing elongated articles including a main driving means, a cutting mechanism operativelyassociated with said main driving means for intermittently cutting elongated articles for free fall, a container for receiving elongated articles from said cutting mechanism, movable means below said cutting mechanism, for supporting said container, an intermittent driving mechanism connected to said movable means including a rotatable mechanism having a toothed driving wheel and a cam, means connected between said main driving means and said toothed means for rotating said toothed means and said cam in intermittent steps, and a link mechanism connected to said movable means and contacting said cam for moving said movable means in intermittent steps between two limiting positions.

3. Apparatus for packing elongated articles cut by a fabricating machine, a shaft, a movable support, a container to be located supported on said movable support for movement beneath the fabricating machine, mechanical means adapted to be moved intermittently by said shaft, and a link mechanism connected between said mechanical means and said movable support whereby said movable support is moved progressively and intermittently in steps between two extreme positions, the movement being synchronized with respect to said fabricating machine to maintain said movable means with the container supported in a stationary position during an ejecting operation of said fabricating machine.

4. A machine for cutting and packing elongated articles, comprisinga main operating shaft, means coupled to said main operating shaft for cutting stock to provide the elongated articles, a receiving package movable below said cutting means, means linked to said operating shaft for progressively moving and placing said receiving package in a selective position to receive and pack said articles as they are cut by themachine, said linked means including a lever connected to said package, a cam engaged by said lever, a ratchet fixed to said cam, and a pawl engaging said ratchet and connected in power transfer relation. to said main operating shaft, to stop the movement of the receiving package as the articles are cut off and then to move the receiving package to a next adjacent position.

5. A machine for cutting and packing elongated light weight articles comprising a main operating shaft, a second shaft coupled to said main operating shaft, a cam operated device on said second shaft to cut the elongated articles, a third operating shaft linked for simultaneous movement with said second operating shaft, 21 package for receiving said articles, and means on said third shaft to progressively move and then stop the movement of said package in a position adjacent said cam operated device to receive and pack the elongated articles.

6. An apparatus for cutting and packing elongated articles dropped by the apparatus after cutting, including a rotatable shaft, a cutting device coupled to said shaft, a receiving package for receiving ejected articles and, means to couple said rotatable shaft to said receiving package, said means to couple including a cam connected to said package, and an intermittent mechanism connecting said cam to said shaft, said package being movable in a path below said cutting device, whereby said package is held stationary below said cutting device during the cutting of an article for receiving the cut article, and is moved to an adjacent position after the article has been received, for a predetermined stacking of said articles in said package.

7. A cutting and packing machine of the type in which fabricated articles are cut for free fall, comprising a cutting mechanism, a rotatable shaft coupled to and in phase relationship with said cutting mechanism, said mechanism being adapted to cut one of said articles for free fall during one revolution of said shaft, a cam, a toothed ratchet secured to said cam, a pawl engaging said ratchet, linkage means between said rotatable shaft for moving said ratchet one tooth for one revolution of said rotatable shaft, a packing box for said fabricated articles, a movable carriage below said cutting mechanism to support said packing box, and means for coupling said cam and said movable carriage for causing said carriage to progressively move in steps as determined by said ratchet, the movable carriage disposing the packing box in registry with the path of articles falling from said cutting mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

